McMinnville Water & Light advances distribution upgrades, secures land for future reservoir

McMinnville Water & Light advances distribution upgrades, secures land for future reservoirThe McMinnville Water & Light Commission approved a $320,000 land purchase for a future storage tank and adopted its FY2026-2027 budget, which features $17.8 million in water capital additions.

Commissioners approved the $320,000 purchase of 2.56 acres adjacent to the Fox Ridge Reservoir to secure space for a future fifth storage tank and transmission main routing.

The board authorized a no-cost change order for the ongoing $1.61 million Zone 2 Pump Station project to add an essential HVAC system for the electrical room.

The newly adopted FY2026-2027 budget includes $17.8 million in water division capital additions, funding the Fox Ridge expansion and a $1.5 million land purchase for a regional water treatment plant.

McMinnville Water & Light (MW&L) is advancing several key water distribution and storage projects following the adoption of its FY2026-2027 budget, which includes $17.8 million in water system plant additions. During a June 16, 2026 meeting, the MW&L Commission approved the $320,000 purchase of 2.56 acres of land adjacent to the existing Fox Ridge Reservoir site. Engineering & Operations Director James Burke noted the utility has targeted the property for several years to secure space for a future fifth reservoir. The new storage tank will eventually help replace the utility's aging Reservoirs 1 and 2, which date back to 1914 and 1918. The acquisition from private owners also secures necessary routing and unrestricted maintenance access for Phase 3 of the utility's Finished Water Transmission Main Replacement Project. The commission also approved a no-cost change order for the Zone 2 Pump Station Improvements project, maintaining the original contract price of $1.61 million. The contract was awarded to Haworth Inc. in November 2025 to increase capacity for new residential developments by Holt Homes. Change Order No. 1 reallocates $30,267 from the project's extra-work allowance and applies a $5,385 credit from conduit material substitutions to fund a $35,652 split air conditioning system. The HVAC system was omitted from the original design but is required to protect electrical equipment when outdoor temperatures exceed 95 degrees. The project approvals coincided with the adoption of the utility's FY2026-2027 budget. In addition to the Fox Ridge and Zone 2 projects, the Water Division's capital improvement plan allocates $1.5 million for land acquisition for a future regional water treatment plant along Highway 18, and $575,000 for the procurement and installation of a redundant chlorine generation system. In broader regional supply developments, General Manager John Dietz reported ongoing discussions with the neighboring City of Dayton regarding Dayton's potential return to the Yamhill Regional Water Authority.